I struck good strokes more than one

‘April 20 [1826]…The day was so tempting that I went out with Tom Purdie to cut some trees,

the rather that my task was very well advanced. He led me into the wood, as the blind 

King of Bohemia was led by his four knights into the thick of the battle at Agincourt or Crecy,

and then, like the old King, "I struck good strokes more than one," which is manly exercise.’

Blind King John of Bohemia wouldn’t have it said that a Bohemian king had avoided battle.

Lockhart’s note to Scott’s journal suggests turning to Jean Froissart’s description of the Battle

 of Crecy: ‘…The valiant king of Bohemia called [John] of Luxembourg, son to the noble

 emperor Henry of Luxembourg, for all that he was nigh blind, when he understood the order

 of the battle, he said to them about him: 'Where is the lord Charles my son?' His men said:

 'Sir, we cannot tell; we think he be fighting.' Then he said: 'Sirs, ye are my men, my 

companions and friends in this journey: I require you bring me so far forward, that I may strike

 one stroke with my sword.' They said they would do his commandment, and to the intent

 that they should not lose him in the press, they tied all their reins of their bridles each to other

 and set the king before to accomplish his desire, and so they went on their enemies.

The lord Charles of Bohemia his [King John’s] son, who wrote himself king of Almaine

and bare the arms, he came in good order to the battle; but when he saw that the matter

 went awry on their party, he departed, I cannot tell you which way. The king his father was 

so far forward that he strake a stroke with his sword, yea and more than four, and fought 

valiantly and so did his company; and they adventured themselves so forward, that they 

were there all slain, and the next day they were found in the place about the king, and all

 their horses tied each to other…’